Christians in rural parts of Nepal received 2,000 Bibles in August. For many, it was the first Bible they ever owned. “Every member of our church now has the Bible,” wrote one pastor in a thank you note. “As a pastor, it is very good to see all the believers carrying the Bible on Sunday and reading it at home every day.” Another pastor had only 35 Bibles for his church of more than 669 people. When VOM delivered 634 Bibles to him, he was amazed when he didn’t have to pay anything for them. One church member who received a Bible, Saramaya, described how her family now sits down together to study the word of God. “My son has been changed after reading the Bible. He loved Philippians 4:13.” Praise God for his provision through those who sponsored the Bibles and carried out the distribution.

Members of the Taliban kidnapped a young low-caste Christian man and held him captive for nine months. During that time, “Yousef’s” captors asked him over and over to give in and deny Christ. Though he isn’t bold by nature, Yousef, 28, never gave in, even after his cousin said he was interested in Islam and was released. At first, the Taliban members accused Yousef, a poor man of being a foreign spy. From August until October, he was beaten every few days. He was also tortured with simulated drowning. Finally, his captors realized he would not yield, so they released him near his hometown near the Afghan border. Dirty, smelly and barely able to walk, Yousef made his way back to his family. VOM’s Pakistan team visited his family last week, and Yousef “is in rough shape,” wrote our field worker. Pray for his recovery and for protection for his family.

Laos—Update: Young Woman Yields to Family PressureSource: VOM Contacts

A young Khmu woman has given in to pressure from her family to stop going to church and to stop talking to Christians. Seventeen-year-old “Phum” became a Christian after attending church with a friend in Oudomxay province. Knowing that her family would disapprove — especially her older brother, who works for the Lao Patriotic party — she tried to hide where she went each Sunday. After about two months, Phum’s family noticed her weekly disappearances. When they asked where she was going, she told them she had become a Christian. They tried to dissuade her from practicing her faith by giving her chores to do on Sunday, trapping her in the house and even beating her. They also burned her Bible and hymnbook. Phum resisted for several months, trying to sneak out of the house. Recently, however, she hasn’t been to church in several weeks and hasn’t spoken to believers. Please pray that her faith will remain intact as she goes through this difficult trial.